Arh...my long awaited PC show...the tiring and leg-breaking day i've been looking forward to since heaven knows when. Pple question me...why do i like to do this kind of job? Why would i want to stand the whole day, talk the whole day and fake a plastic smile to people you don't feel like entertaining, or sometimes to people whom you are cursing and swearing furiously deep down inside? My ans is...i don't know too.

Today was busy.
To the extent that i didn't really eat lunch and dinner, if you were to ignore the little blueberry cream bun that i had at 6pm.
To the extent that i didnt have time for toilet.
To the extent that i kept one group of customers waiting while i served my other customers.
To the extent that i didn't even keep track of time.
To the extent that i didn't know how i survived today.

Tomorrow is another day of uncertainty. The target is a ridiculous figure of 20 sets. You think tts possible? You think laptops cost $129.90 instead of $1299? Its not easy earning pple's money, especially when you know that the stuff you are selling, is less competitive than the other brands.

Customers came to me with brocures from Acer and Compaq. They made me do the comparisons for them. Even Dell laptops from the retail booths are much more attractive than what we the direct sales are selling. How am i supposed to convince the customers when u realise that after matching all the specs, we are most expensive than the other brands? I don't cheat you see. I am a consumer 99.9% of the time. I understand how it feels when the $$$ figures stare at you. $200 difference is a difference! You can't tell pple, "oh, for that $200, you get to purchase a Dell laptop (and not any other brands) and you get to choose from 8 colours!" Cos i would rather keep my $200 and go for a normal-looking Compaq or NEC laptop, so long as the specs are good. Afterall, most laptops look normal. And same goes for their owners.

But then again, i'm ashamed that this year, we are selling notebooks with such outdated specs. I know they wanted to make the prices look attractive...but i could almost feel myself blushing everytime i mention the additional costs of upgrades to the customers. Because, after all the addition, its no longer seems that good and cheap a deal! And the best thing, once again, is us selling more expensive than our retail booth! I hate this. Why are we, the direct dealers, more expensive than the retail dealers!!! Its so irritating! Its as if we are driving away our customers...as if the non-casn & carry policy isnt doing so enough.

Oh well oh well. Thats sales. And of cos, you meet all kinds of customers. Humourous, not-humourous-but-try-to-act-humourous, cheapskates, wealthy, knowlegable, smart-alecs, friendly, arrogant...and many more. I can't help but reflect on which category i fall into 99.9% of the time.

I know we are paid. But we are workers, not slaves. The least those whoevers can do is to appreciate what we are doing for them. Its not my fault that customers take their time to make a decision. Mind you, its a $1000+++ deal that we are talking abt here. Esp in times of inflation and other rubbish, time for consideration is definitely necessary.

I didnt lose my cool. (When customers were around.)
I didnt lose my smile. (When customers were around.)
No matter how fake i look. (As compared to when customers are not around.)
Afterall sales is service.